Belt was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in Thursday's loss to the Nationals

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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 18: Brandon Belt #9 of the San Francisco Giants is restrained by first base coach Jose Alguacil #17 and bench coach Hensley Meulens #31 after being ejected by home plate umpire Mike Everitt #57 in the seventh inning at Nationals Park on April 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH — It’s no surprise when a big event in the nation’s capital sparks a debate around the country and that’s exactly what happened on Thursday.

The events in Washington, D.C., did little to move people from one side of the aisle to the other as most have had their minds made up on this subject for quite some time.

We’re talking, of course, about whether Brandon Belt should do more to protect against called third strikes.

Belt was rung up twice by home plate umpire Ryan Additon in the Giants’ 4-2 loss to the Nationals Thursday and after taking his first called third strike, manager Bruce Bochy argued on Belt’s behalf and was ejected.

“At no point was it a strike,” Belt said. “That’s the tough thing. I could see maybe if it crossed the plate right at the last second and then was slightly off, but it was never, at not one point, a strike.”

After taking his second called third strike three innings later, Belt flung his helmet into the dirt and was also tossed from the game.

“At some point, you’ve got to make an adjustment,” Belt said. “And (Additon) didn’t do that.”

Should Belt swing at any pitch that’s remotely close to the strike zone? Some fans argue yes, but statistics provide an overwhelming argument that Belt shouldn’t feel compelled to lift the bat off his shoulder. Since 2018, Belt is 4-for-72 when swinging at a pitch outside the strike zone with two strikes.

Major League Baseball is not Little League Baseball. Umpires are not calling strikes on pitches outside the strike zone to speed up the pace of play. They’re paid professionals who are expected to call balls and strikes accurately.

With a pitcher like Patrick Corbin on the mound, Belt believed he should have been rewarded for taking a close pitch that was clearly off the plate. Instead, Additon’s wide zone favored Corbin, and that cost the Giants multiple opportunities.

“Does the game change if I get on base and Longo hits me in or Craw hits a sac fly and we score a run right there?” Belt asked. “We don’t know. We’ll never get to know because it was taken away. I hate to go out there and blame a whole game on that, it’s not that. We didn’t lose in particular just because of that. But you just hate to see stuff taken away.”

It’s completely fair to argue that with the game on the line in the ninth inning, Belt should do more to foul off close pitches and extend an at-bat. But it’s also fair to wonder why a hitter with an exceptional feel for the strike zone should be punished for laying off pitches that aren’t strikes.

Either way, Giants fans are split on what Belt should do in these situations. In Washington, D.C., no compromise was reached.

The Giants have scored just 62 runs in their first 20 games and none of those runs have come in the first inning of a game. Bochy has been pleased with his team’s at-bats later in games, yet his hitters are giving away too many opportunities against opposing starters. The Giants have six hits in 63 at-bats in the first inning this year, a mark that’s jaw-dropping in many ways.

2. Road series blues

The Giants have played three road series this season and in each of their last two, the club has won the opener before dropping two in a row. Offensive struggles have prevented the Giants from capturing a series win on the road and to secure their first, they’ll need to overcome a tough Pittsburgh staff that’s off to one of the best starts in baseball.

3. Patience in Pittsburgh

The forecast calls for rain on Friday and Saturday with a slight chance of showers on Sunday, so it’s possible the Giants will be subjected to weather delays or even a postponement. Waiting out rain is rarely easy for struggling hitters and eager pitchers, but the Giants may have no choice but to adapt and stay patient this weekend.

Players to watch

1. Derek Holland

Holland gave up at least three runs in six of his first seven starts with the Giants last year, but the left-hander began to turn his season around with a dominant effort at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Holland tossed 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball to end a five-game Giants losing streak and he went on to finish the year with a 3.04 ERA in his remaining outings.

Holland’s ability to enjoy similar success could make or break the Giants chances of earning a much-needed series win.

2. Steven Duggar

Duggar homered in back-to-back games against the Nationals, but he made two mental mistakes on the base paths that ended up hurting the Giants. Bochy has expressed confidence in Duggar’s instincts and ability to set the tone for the Giants lineup at the top of the order, but San Francisco will need its young outfielder to eliminate some of the costly errors that have hurt the club early in the year.

3. Mark Melancon

Some of Melancon’s best days came during the four years the right-hander spent in Pittsburgh as he made two All-Star teams and posted a 1.80 ERA in 267 appearances for the Pirates. After a brutal two-year stretch in San Francisco, Melancon appears to have turned a corner and still owns a 0.00 ERA through 10 innings on the season. Is this the series Bochy finally reveals he trusts Melancon in late-inning, high-pressure situations with a game on the line?

Number to know: 2.63

After securing a 3-2 win over the Tigers Wednesday, the Pirates dropped their team ERA to 2.63 on the season, a number that ranks second in all of baseball. The Giants will see three capable starters this weekend who have limited walks and racked up strikeouts. They’ll want to avoid Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez, who has yet to allow an earned run in 9 2/3 innings this year.

Kerry Crowley is a multimedia beat reporter covering the San Francisco Giants. He spent his early days throwing curveballs in San Francisco’s youth leagues before studying journalism at Arizona State University. Kerry has covered every level of baseball, from local preps to the Cape Cod League, and is now on a quest to determine which Major League city serves the best cheeseburger.